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Relative Advantage of Presentations in the Classroom

For many years, I sat trying to keep myself awake during a PowerPoint presentation. I would be popping Vivarin, chased with Jolt, while someone droned on reading words on a screen that I could read myself if there wasn’t so many that they had to use negative four font size to fit them all on the slide. Then, after forty-five minutes of my life that I would never get back, I had to sit through a half an hour of questions that basically had all the same information provided again. I didn’t know there was any other way. Not until I started in this program.

In my Online Teaching class, I created this Google Presentation. Still, too wordy, but at least there was some interaction to it to keep a student focused. Then, in YouTube for the Educator, I created this video using PowerPoint. Since it was a video, it wasn’t interactive (though, I later learned ways to create an interactive video if I want to re-worked this). It did have a lot more graphics and animation to go with the narration. Maybe it won’t win a “Tubie” (which is what they should call YouTube Video Awards, if they don’t), but it shows why such presentations can be a valuable asset to the classroom.

Presentation applications have many features that give them an advantage in the classroom. They can be interactive. They are accessible for viewing by students who missed the class or re-viewing by students who need to take a second look. Presentations permit a diverse media display: Images, videos and links to additional resources. Questions can be included, both full-length quizzes and spot checks. SlideRocket will allow you to add interactive elements to your presentation.

Not every presentation program has the same features. Currently, there is no ability to add audio to Google. Searching on the internet, I found that you can work around this somewhat by creating a video narration and embedding the video. Shrink it real small to hide, or just enough to look like you are TV news anchor in a PIP (Picture-in-Picture) format. Adding narration will save your voice and ensure that everyone viewing the presentation will get the same information, regardless of when they view it or how many times. Eliminates the possibility of forgetting something in one of your presentations to one of your classes.

Now that you are aware of the fact that presentations don’t have to be like this, but can be like this, you are well on your way to earning a “Tubie.” (Come on, people. We need to get a grassroots campaign started). Or, at the very least, be a reason for Starbucks’ sales to drop on one day.

One thought on “Relative Advantage of Presentations in the Classroom”

Joe,
I enjoyed reading your article; I too have been through some very boring presentations. Did you know that slide rocket is no longer available as such, it is now part of clear slide and they have revamped? Back to business.. The way that you wrote this article made it very interesting, I enjoyed viewing your previous presentations and seeing your growth and understanding of the medium. I also liked the video that you linked at the end as the proper way to create a presentation. I really wish Google presentations had a way of adding sound that is a little more tactful than adding a video. Perhaps that is something they are working on, one can hope. Thank you for sharing your insights this week. Nicely done.